What a wonderful idea — and what horrible hours! Most families requiring assistance have very limited transportation flexibility. Expecting those families to reach the facility in the middle of the day — a school day, at that — is shortsighted. If the volunteers really want to help, they’ll open on Saturday or a weekday evening.

Many years ago, I was stationed in Iran as an adviser to an Iranian army unit. Before I arrived in the country, I had been told, “If you are in a taxi that becomes involved in an accident, get out and run away fast.” I learned why.

If you hire a cab to take you somewhere, and if there’s an accident en route, the driver blames you for having hired the cab and causing it to be at the scene. That way, he’s not at fault. I’m not sure about the attitude of the insurance company — if any.

Mr. Pimentel, we have spent years listening to and reading propaganda from so-called journalists such as yourself. Now that the people of this country are seeing the truth, you are trying to make us believe you have been honest purveyors of the news. So, I say to you, sir, if you like your lies you may keep them — to yourself.

In his letter to the editor, Rep. Lamar Smith stated, “It’s no surprise that the media’s credibility is at a record low with the American people, according to a recent Gallup Poll. A recent poll confirms exactly what I said and refutes what (columnist Rick) Casey said (“What we learn when the news source is Trump,” Other Views, Feb. 4). Forty-nine percent find the administration truthful, while only 39 percent find the media honest. So, yes, the American people agree with me that Trump is a better source than the biased media.”

Just because a poll finds 49 percent believe the administration truthful and 39 percent find the media honest doesn’t make it so. Alternate facts are not truth, just somebody’s lies. In the 1400s, more than 90-plus percent of the people in Europe probably believed the world was flat. That didn’t make it so. This administration continues to tell lies and many people are gullible enough to believe it.

Mr. Lowry extols the Trump culture war without mentioning the major flaws.

First, the frequent lies, usually followed by significant course correction.

Second, the dictatorial approach to settle many major issues without consultation.

Third, the narcissistic frets and tantrums on public display.

Fourth, the evident dependency and reliance on Russian friendship.

This Trump culture crusade does not comply with a Jacksonian-American ethos. The corrupt establishment is not the Eastern intellectual elites but the moneyed elites. Most Cabinet officials are from the billionaire class and have no intention of fulfilling the legally assigned mission of the respective departments they will head. If good public schools, for instance, are abandoned as the highest priority of the Education Department, then democracy is in dire trouble.

Accuse the left of treason? No! Consorting with Russian leadership is treason. If immigration as a positive theme in the American experience is rejected — again — true American culture is threatened. Rejoicing in Trump’s culture war is not appropriate, that’s what is treasonous.

It appears the only person showing disrespect to the office of the president is the current occupant of the Oval Office. In the first few weeks of his administration, Donald Trump has managed to insult most of the world, caused renewed pollution by rolling back regulations and served as a lackey for Wall Street. Trump is the most insecure, narcissistic man to ever call the White House home! God help the United States of America under this fool’s “reign”!

Here is the great America under Donald Trump. Drain the swamp means filling the Cabinet with billionaires and insiders. Protecting the average American means repealing the financial regulations to allow Wall Street to run wild again. Keeping us safe means cuddling up with Vladimir Putin, the KGB operative-turned-president. Keeping us mighty means threatening our solidarity with NATO and questioning the ability of our intelligence professionals.

Building the wall means we will pay for that albatross. Being presidential means insulting the integrity of the judiciary. Being presidential means waging war against immigrants and minorities. And, most astonishing of all, is Trump’s denial of truth, excused and tolerated by his circle of advisers and politicians. I don’t think this Trump circus is working to our advantage.